Now onto other projects… Well, I’ve got a few deadlines in 2022. 1st March, 30th of June and the 1st of September. So three books next year. I love it when I get to clean off these white boards and start on another book. As much as I find the writing process hard,…
Never be afraid to be the only woman in the room. A hard take in Australian Agriculture but today, on the International Day of Rural Women, I’m reminded of how far women in agriculture have come, and how much things have changed for women who want to work on the land. Like just about every…
I’m often asked what it takes to write a book. Having finished my 19th novel about twelve hours ago, I reflected on the question, whilst sitting on the patio with a wine, screaming: ‘thank god that’s done!’ So, I compiled a list. A workable laptop. Not one that dies with only copy of your…
I left home at age 12 to go to boarding school in Adelaide. Orroroo, where I lived at the time and Adelaide are only three hours drive apart, which really isn’t that far when you think about it. But the world I changed to from Orroroo was as far wide and different, as if I’d…
Have you got long lasting memories of hanging out in your grandma’s kitchen? I sure do. My Nana H was the best cook – some of her specialties were chocolate chip biscuits, sponge cake, trifle and bread rolls made from scratch. In fact she taught me how to make bread from scratch and I still…
I’m often asked what my office looks like. Usually it’s too messy for me to take a photo – I’ll have research and papers all over my desk so it’s all at my fingertips as I write. But when I started the new novel (tentatively called Swindler’s List!) I tidied the desk and took a…
I have a love/hate relationship with the beach and it took me quite a while to be able to be comfortable on the beach, when I moved to Esperance. It’s sad really because the beaches we have here are magnificent and I do love spending time on them – especially when a crowded beach in…
This morning, when I woke up my first thought was about writing. (Actually it was about coffee, then writing). I needed to write in my journal, I needed to write my next book. With that in mind, I made that coffee and went onto the back verandah to get my morning outside fix, then went…
Hi Everyone, We’ve recently been made aware that there’s been a few binding problems within the pages of The Shearer’s Wife. These will be very few, but if you’ve bought a book like this, please make sure you let me know (you can email me here). We’ll get your book replaced. So sorry, if you’ve…
Check out this beauty! I was lucky enough to be given it by a friend yesterday. I’ve fallen in love with the old keys and noise they make. We think the white paint on there is whiteout. Does anyone have any ideas on how I could clean that off? I wonder how many stories have…
Yes, you read that correctly! There are new things afoot for me during 2021. BUT! First, before I talk about that, Booktopia, the WONDERFUL people over at Booktopia are searching for the Booktopia Favourite Australian Book… which turns into an award. I was lucky enough to have The Shearer’s Wife nominated and I’d love it,…
Happy New Year everyone! Three days in already. Have you started to reassess your life; write down those new year resolutions? I have – although I don’t know why, because I never seem to stick to the for any length of time! And they’re always the same ones; health, fitness, weight loss. Organisation! Creatives seem…
How was your Christmas? I hope you had a special day. Scrolling through Facebook, it does look as if many of you did. It’s nice seeing the happy family photos and what people are doing during their Christmas break. This time of year is really hard for some people – I know. I’m one of…
Well, what a year, huh? Who would have though that the words ‘unprecedented’, ‘Covid normal’, Self-isolation’, ‘social distancing’, ‘Black Lives Matter’, and ‘Karen’ would have made their way into our everyday language? That the news would be full of Corona Virus information, forsaking all other news! That Zoom would have become part of our ‘norm’.…
Oh my gosh! So many questions as to whether there is going to be a sequel to Red Dirt Country! Did you really think I’d leave you hanging to see what Bulldust did next? Well, in case you did, fear not! The answer is yes. Something to Hide will be published on the 30th March…
I’ve always told my kids that “if we don’t share our stories, then how can we help people?” That’s why they don’t mind me talking about the challenges they live with; they embrace them and are what makes them who they are (that doesn’t take away, they’ve had extra challenges to deal with and hard…
I’ve got quite a personal post, today. A post about anxiety, heartache, discovery and in the end, immense satisfaction. Today is International Day of Disabled People. I have two children with disabilities – although as a great friend pointed out to me the other day: ‘I don’t think of your kids as disabled.’ Nothing more…
I just love the love we all have for Detective Dave Burrows. The amount of emails and questions I get about him are amazing. The most asked question is: what order does he appear in the books. Well, let me put that to rest, with this post. Dave came into being when I wrote my…
I love the ‘new feels’ of starting a new book. It’s exciting, fun and the possibilities are endless. Trouble is, those feelings don’t always hang around. I find I get to about 20,000 words in and get a bit stuck. Those first 20,000 come with a rush of adrenalin and enthusiasm. The next 50,000…
I’m really excited that my 15th novel is coming out in early November. I know I say this often, but, if you’d told me 11 years ago that I would write one novel, let alone 15, I’m not sure I would have ever believed you! Anyway, there’s going to be a pre-release launch of The…
When I was a kid, I used to spend recess and lunch in the library. I guess there’s a few of you who think that’s a bit geeky and boring; for me it was anything but. The quietness and coolness of the Orroroo Community Library, where my great friend, Mrs Mackay, was the librarian for…
